WATCH: Doornkop residents walk miles for water, often return empty handed
Doornkop water woes in focus
DA Councillor Anphia Grobler concedes that most of Doornkop’s estimated 5 000 households obtained land through an illegal land grab but says authorities have ignored the continued land invasion since 1994.
Today, there’s nowhere else for the families to go, and they’re there to stay.
Grobler has been fighting for municipal services for Doornkop residents for more than a decade.
Her hard work was rewarded when she was elected ward councillor for Doornkop during the 2021 municipal elections.
@middelburgobserver DA Doornkop councillor laments rural water shortages
Ever since, she has continued her fight, often raising Doornkop concerns in council.
She told the Middelburg Observer that water theft is rife, with opportunists selling water, while residents have to use communal taps and Jo-Jo Tanks for water supply, both of which often run dry.
Residents often have to go weeks without water.
In her latest salvo, she said, “Doornkop residents’ basic human rights are being ignored.”
The municipality, however, disagrees.
According to the municipality, the authority is supplying basic services to all Doornkop residents.
Illegal water connections, according to the municipality, are the biggest problem, resulting in taps running dry.
• Read the full article in this week’s Middelburg Observer.
